SPAIN: Lynn Fisher, of San Jose, shows off the “Compostela” certificate she received for walking 290 miles on the Camino de Santiago. Certificates are issued by the Archdiocese de Santiago de Compostela to those who walk at least 100 kilometers (62 miles) on the pilgrimage route.

Travel tip: Break in your boots with at least 100 miles before you go, Fisher advises. And make sure to stay an extra night in Burgos or Leon so you can visit the “absolutely gorgeous” cathedrals.

COURTESY OF ARIANA RICKARD

FLORIDA: Pierre Bull and Ariana Rickard, of Walnut Creek, meet some curious manatees at the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge.

Travel tip: It’s best to join a tour that’s leaving really early, about 6 a.m., Rickard says. “There are fewer people in the water at that time, and the manatees are more interactive,” she says.